Fighting cancer with lacrosse at Copper Sky

Copper Sky Regional Park will host the annual LAX4LIFE charity fundraiser by holding youth lacrosse scrimmages from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on all available fields.

LAX4LIFE was organized by Desert Vista lacrosse head coach and former NCAA national champion Dan Lannon of Maricopa. Lannon has helped raise money for local youth fighting cancer by hosting the yearly fundraiser, and he expects this year to be the biggest event yet.

“This event started eight years ago with six local lacrosse teams playing to raise money for a local coach’s son with leukemia,” Lannon said. “This year, we expect to have 16 teams. Each team paid an entry fee and will be playing three scrimmages. The money raised will be donated to two local kids and the Phoenix Children’s Hospital.”

The money raised during the event this year will go to helping 7-year-old Brady Wein with his battle with acute myelogenous leukemia, Desert Vista Lacrosse player Evan Johnson recover from his battle with bone cancer and the Phoenix Children’s Hospital (which treated both Wein and Johnson).

“We usually raise $4,000 to $5,000 each year,” Lannon said. “It should be a bit more this year with so many teams participating, though.”

Team entry fees aren’t the only thing bringing in money for the charity though. Hungry spectators will be able to purchase meals from the food trucks on site, and 20 percent of all food proceeds will be donated to LAX4LIFE.

Pat Kieny of Native Grill and Wings in Maricopa will also donate 20 percent of any bill from a customer who mentions the LAX4LIFE event on Saturday.

“We definitely need (to give) a big hoorah and thank you to Pat,” LAX4LIFE participant Kimberly Hunter said. “Also we need to give kudos to Copper Sky, in particular, David Aviles, recreation coordinator Copper Sky, for helping to make this event possible.”

This is Copper Sky’s first year hosting the event, but Lannon believes it will be the best venue LAX4LIFE has had.

“Copper Sky allows us to bring more teams,” Lannon said. “Our previous venues only had five fields, Copper Sky has eight. We were able to fill up our openings over the last few months.”

LAX4LIFE will also be holding a toy drive during the event. Spectators are encouraged to bring toys for donation.